I’m no food photographer, but I was pretty pleased with how my first official food shoot turned out for The Chef’s Table, a restaurant in the Suntree neighborhood of Melbourne, Florida that's one of my brother’s and my favorite hangouts. Photographing there started out as a just-for-fun project during one of my visits, but wound up turning into a commission designing not only an entire website for The Chef’s Table, but also its parent restaurant, Amici’s (right next door and our original first favorite!)

I was a little nervous at first, but then it actually turned out to be a ton of fun and easier than I thought it would be. There was great natural light and simple backgrounds… I just got in there and pretended I was photographing a portrait. I realize that I “see” in portraits anyway. I’m always trying to get at the heart of whatever it is I’m photographing, whether it’s a landscape or a person, or, in this case, a plate of spaghetti.

This might be my favorite one. It's a very delicious pear, but it looks like the rings of Saturn with moons lined up in a row!

I think best of all was getting to sample everything as I was working. If you can't tell already, I am really enjoying the perks that come with designing websites! If you haven't yet, take a peek: The Chef's Table and Amici's Italian Restaurant. Better yet, next time you're in Suntree, come visit. (Tell Dave & Valentina that Claudia sent you!)

I thought a day in New York would be the perfect opportunity for a photo-an-hour post. Here goes...

8:30am - Breakfast with Lynn at the Eveready Diner in Southeast. She wasn't going to be able to come to the city with me, so we thought we'd at least start out with breakfast together before she dropped me off at the train station.

9:30am - Hillary. Sigh...

10:30am - Ahhh... Grand Central Station. Being here never gets old.

11:30am - On the train I looked up "print museum New York" just to see what would turn up. I had no idea I'd discover the International Print Center New York. Their current exhibit, Just Under 100, is the fifty-sixth presentation of its New Prints Program, a biannual, juried open call for prints that included 98 international artists.

I loved seeing so many different printmaking techniques all displayed in one space. It makes me look forward even more to getting started at the printmaking co-op once fall comes.

1:30pm - Thought I'd pop into the Fashion Institute of Technology's museum since it was just down the street a bit. Their current exhibit, Forces of Nature, focused on how nature and science has influenced fashion and even vice-versa. For example, beautiful bird feathers found their way onto hats and couture clothing in the late 19th and early 20th century, but demand for plumage rendered several species nearly extinct and ushered in protection laws which still exist today.

The cape (1920) and dress (1953) above were inspired by new concepts and technologies that brought the far reaches of space closer to ordinary citizens.

2:30pm -The Center for Book Arts. I spent some time looking at exhibits & books and poking around their studios. What a special place! One of their current exhibits, Animation & Printing, presents "a selection of short animated films from around the US and the world, each created using techniques common in the book arts such as letterpress printing from moveable type, wood type, pressure printing, lino and wood cut, etching, silkscreen as well as animation in watermarked paper."

I loved seeing how artists were using printed material in digital ways. Just because we create something in one medium doesn't mean we can't present it in more than one format!

Boxes of fonts! (drooling here...)

This was such a powerful piece. Emily Martin's Desdemona In Her Own Words. While this photo only shows a single print from the folio, visit Emily's website to see the animation and learn more about the work.

3:30pm - Agnolotti at Eataly. Heaven on a plate!

4:30pm - On my way to Mood Fabrics!

I knew Mood would be overwhelming, and it was, but in a fun way. I DID find the red silk velvet I was looking for to make my new "singing" dress (for jazz caroling during the holidays), and I took photos of other fabrics that caught my eye. I'm a little more cautious now about what I buy when I'm excited in a fabric store (or a paper shop or a greenhouse or a...) I don't want to come home with TOO much. So now I'm going through my photos, narrowing down the choices. I'll either stop in quickly on my way back to Ohio or order online.

5:30pm - I loved looking at all the trims. I could have taken home every one of these, even if I don't necessarily have a use for any of them yet :-)

Just as I was paying for my velvet, the Project Runway designers & crew showed up. Too funny. I guess they're filming the next season!

6:30pm -Gotham Writers Workshop. They've got a Friday night "write-in" where you're given a writing prompt (which you can use or ignore), take some time to write, and share your work with the group if you want. Then there's wine & cheese & good cookies, and then you repeat the process. It was fun! I didn't write to the prompts, nor did I share what I wrote (and to me, 15 minutes of writing time -- even if it's twice -- isn't enough.) But that's okay. I'm glad I went and I was able to talk with a couple staff members about their online classes.

7:30pm - The view from Gotham's 14th floor window.

8:30pm - Finished and walking back to the subway. Needless to say, I slept on the train. Goodbye for now, New York!

It's been awhile since I photographed a wedding, and I was honored when one of my Florida friends, Chad, asked if I would photograph his. He and Carlen and their daughter, Aria, were originally planning to elope to Tuscany (so of course I volunteered to tag along -- who wouldn't?!) but when you also want your family to come with you, sometimes it makes more sense to plan something closer to home.

They were hoping for a simple, short and sweet, "let's just walk down to the beach and have the ceremony" kind of thing, but the weather turned drizzly just in time. So we headed to their surf-style church instead. Roll with it!

I was sooo glad to be a part of this family's very special and beautiful day. Thanks, guys!!

Yikes it's August! But it's also still summer and there's a month and a half to go before it’s fall. How has your summer been? Mine began with a vacation to Venice and Vienna with John and his girls. It's a different experience traveling with family, and Venice won't show you much beyond the surface if you don't have the time and quiet to spend. I've only done a quick look-through of my photos from the trip, so there will be more to come.

It wasn't until the last day of the trip that I found THE perfect guidebook, illustrated with watercolor washes and written as though a friend is talking to you. So, once I was home again, I spent a little time on my patio every morning reading through it, folding over pages and pages of things I'd like to do when I go back again. This is my second time in Venice; I can't imagine it will be my last. I haven't even gotten to the islands yet.

At home again, I opened up all the doors and windows, even the ones without screens, and just imagined I was back on the canals, living in a centuries-old building with secret-garden patios.

For awhile I slept in front of my upstairs French doors. Moonlight all night. Stars sailing by. Good dreams.

In the garden this year, I thought I'd try growing some snap peas instead of just tomatoes. They were so good. Most of them didn't even make it into the house because we'd just eat them right off the vines. I hear you can plant a fall crop since they like cooler weather. Maybe I will do that…

Summer means swimming, of course, although I’m not at the pool as often as I could be.

July took me to Florida to house sit for my brother and his wife while they went on vacation. My week included reading on the beach every single day unless it rained, and playing vet tech to Socks, my brother's asthmatic cat.

I also tried my hand at food styling & photography for the Amici's Italian Restaurant website I’m designing. Every time I look at the photos I get hungry!

I've been sewing too. Made my first sundress out of an old sheet I'd been saving.

I also shortened one of my Mom's full slips so that it fits me in that sundress. I took off the lace, cut the fabric, and sewed the lace back on. Now that I can sew, I wish I'd saved more of her clothes. But I guess that makes the things I did save that much more meaningful to me when I wear them.

It's been a year and a half since I started sewing, and I told myself that if I kept it up and still enjoyed it after a year, I'd let myself spring for a new and better sewing machine. That time is here! Sew to Speak, my favorite sewing shop, happens to be a Juki dealer, and trying those out felt like stepping into a limo after riding around in a golf cart. I knew which one I had my eye on, asked the shop to order it, and then felt validated when, wandering through the halls of CCAD's fashion design halls one afternoon, I stumbled on a sewing room that was outfitted in Jukis.

Back in June, I gave my Flying Adventure book reading and artist talk at the Phoenix Rising printmaking coop, and to celebrate, promptly gave their honorarium back in the form of an associate membership... I'm excited to spend time there come fall.

My talk went well! The audience was wonderful and we had lively discussions afterward. Best of all was that after packing everything up and walking out the door, there were still people talking about it in the parking lot. I am sooo looking forward to spending time in that great space and being involved in an art community here in Columbus.

Thanks for the phone snaps, Vicki!

In a bit of not-so-great news, I just found out that Copper (aka Miss Kid) is diabetic. She'd been drinking sooo much water and acting differently and just looking at me with that "something's wrong, please help me" look. While I was in Florida she spent a week at the vet and they got her all sorted out. I learned how to give her injections and glucose tests and now she is feeling so much better.

She's 17 and this is her first ever illness (if you don’t count the time the tip of her tail got nipped off in a closing door). I keep telling her she has to live forever. I hope she listens!

In airplane world this summer, everything is broken. The Starfighter's air system is leaking and the Champ needed a new engine. I haven’t even flown it yet. I'm just glad Ohio's autumns last through November because I am missing hanging out in my favorite planes. Here's a photo from our last trip through the playground of clouds.

It always feels like the months from August to December move at the speed of light compared with the rest of the year. I’m going to do my best to slow that down but it’s probably inevitable! Sigh…

I hope that fall still feels far away for you. Keep in touch... I'd love to hear about your adventures this summer!

I was born in Germany and we lived there for four and a half years before coming to the US. (My Dad was an architect and had been transferred over there for a while.) One of my early memories was flying across the Atlantic on the 747. We did this more than once, and each time, my Dad would take me up to the cockpit and I’d get to sit on the captain’s lap and “steer” the plane. I did a pretty good job if I do say so! I will never forget the view, or how amazed I was at all the buttons and switches and knobs.

They’re old planes now, and slowly they’re being retired. Delta’s starting to take them offline - they’re even making a 747 museum! - so I thought it would be fun to take one last trip before they disappear.

One of my brother’s friends is a first officer on Delta’s 747 routes to Asia, and he’s always said I should tag along on one of his flights. When the opportunity came up at the end of March, I decided to go!

Brucie was scheduled to fly to Seoul, spend the entire next day there, and then fly back the following morning. Perfect! No visa required, and only two nights of hotel expenses. John was even able to finagle a few days off to come too. Let’s go!

We left from Detroit. Ahhh, there it is!! Always an impressive sight! Sadly the iconic spiral staircase (leading to its equally iconic second-floor bar & lounge) has been replaced by those business class sleeper “pods”, totally ruining the ambience. Somehow the whole thing felt smaller on the inside. Everything feels bigger when you’re a kid, right?

But no matter! We were able to get three seats to ourselves and take turns stretching out for naps. Now, call me crazy, but I love airplane food, and perusing the flight menu was a highlight. My little tiny partitioned meal of chicken & polenta and a salad and a roll and dessert was delicious.

We arrived in Seoul at night. In the morning, this was the view from the hotel window: Ansan Mountain.

Korea is 13 hours ahead of us, so I should have been going to sleep when it was time for breakfast. I decided to just not keep track of time or look at clocks.

What to do with one single day in Seoul? I was hoping to take the cable car up the mountain and visit the big temple, but both were closed on the day we were there. So we went for a couple walks.

Somewhere in the maze of markets we stumbled upon THE best lunch! Cheap, yummy, and Anthony Bourdain-worthy! I think there were only three things on the menu and all you could do was point at what you saw someone else eating and hope it came your way. If I ever go back to Seoul, I don’t know how I’ll find this place again.

After a nap, we hiked partway up Ansan Mountain, just far enough to see some springtime.

I liked this whirlwind trip. There’s something about doing something spur-of-the-moment just because you can. Who knows when and how life will change, and when you have the opportunity to go on an adventure, I say, go for it. Our time on earth is short.

Saturday, May 6 - Flying Adventures Reading at the International Women's Air & Space Museum

As part of the International Women's Air & Space Museum's Family Day celebration, they'll be rolling out the red carpet for a Flying Adventures reading from 10:30-11am. The community event, themed "Soaring into the Future," begins at 10am and continues until 2pm, with exhibits, activities, and entertainment. Admission is FREE. If the weather's nice, John & I will be flying up in the Starfighter so that folks can climb all over it :-)

On the wing at Mad River airfield in Ohio

The IWASM is located at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland. I only just discovered the museum last year... read my blog post about it if you'd like to know more.

Announcing two Awards from the GCAC!

I am honored once again to be the recipient of two Greater Columbus Arts CouncilArtist in the Community grants. The first is a supply grant which will help me purchase frames for the Flying Adventures exhibit. The second is a generous professional development grant which will fund a private bookbinding workshop with Jace Graf of Cloverleaf Studios in Austin, Texas. I look forward to honing my skills!

... and, well, eating lunches around the corner at Il Chilito. Gosh that place is sooo good!

I've been to Cloverleaf a couple times already, one to help finish & send off a group portfolio project to which I'd been a contributor, and another to participate in an intro-to-basic-bookbinding class. I definitely needed something more involved, and when I asked Jace if he'd take me on as a private student for a weekend, I was so happy he said yes. I am thinking of using an exposed-tape binding for my new edition of Flying Adventures. No glue means my images won't peel off the inkjet coating in between signatures. Plus I could really have fun with color combinations for the covers and thread. The photo below is one of Jace's examples of that binding style.

I can’t thank the GCAC enough for their continued support of this project and all that they do to support the arts in our city!

Ummm, when was the last time I did a photo-an-hour post? August I think. Yikes, time flies! I thought it might be fun to keep track of my birthday hours this year, so here goes...

Okay it's aaaalmost my birthday...

10am - Slept in and then spent the morning in bed with books and friends.

11am - Still lounging.

12pm - Drove up to Worthington to my favorite sewing shop, Sew to Speak. They were celebrating their 9th birthday! (Those balloon letters say "sew" but it was windy, so you can't really tell.)

1pm - Still looking at fabrics. I already bought a couple yards of the second one from the left (the blue/red/white floral). It's my plan to make a little 60's a-line dress out of it. I was tempted to get some of the one just to the right of it -- there are unicorns on there! -- but I tried to remember the giant pile of fabric sitting on my sewing table and just took a photo instead :-/

2pm - Came home to find a surprise birthday card from my friend Louise! Thanks, Louise!!

3pm - While I managed to get out of Sew to Speak without purchasing ANY new fabric (whew!), being there inspired me to do some more work on fitting the muslin for the dress I'm working on.

4pm - Watering my tomato seedlings with my Mom's old water sprinkle bottle she used to use for ironing. I love that my brother and I have all these old things from my Mom and Dad that we now use in our own houses.

5pm - Drove to Springfield to hang out with friends for the evening and I was hoooooping the taco truck would be open so that I could have my favorite potato-cheese quesadilla.

Yes it was!!!

6pm - My friends, Vicki & Tom & their daughter, Dina, just got home from a trip to Morocco and came back with a new pastime: drinking very sweet peppermint tea made and served in the beautiful tea set they bought over there.

7pm - Off to the dance party! Dina's dance studio was having a fundraiser and, well, you know me and dancing. Particularly at low-key, non-night-club establishments.

8pm - I put all my raffle tickets in #8 (my birthday is on the 8th) but still didn't win the wine and truffle basket even after they pulled five names out of the bag!! I am convinced it's because I'll need that luck for something better soon.

9pm - Prince was our chaperone. Gotta love that.

10pm - Finally called it a night after three hours of dancing. I loved every minute. I think I was the only person there who could sing all the words to "Ice Ice Baby." (Although I probably shouldn't admit that.)

Afterwards, we walked over to Mother Stewart's, Springfield's new brewery & night spot. They were having some big event with a lot of different bands making music and artists showing work. They've got a bocce court!

I bought this cup from one of the artists as a little birthday-present-to-me. It's kind of teacup-sized, only without a handle. I love it!

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot to show you my birthday present slippers that Vicki & Tom got in Morocco... they're me, don't you think?

I loved my birthday! John was traveling and with all the snafus Delta was having with the weather that day, I couldn't get out of Columbus to see him. But the day turned out to be so much fun... reading, sewing, lolling around, dancing, friends! I actually forgot I was a year older ;-)